Deputy General Director of Lviv’s “Karpaty” Stepan Yurchyshyn shared his thoughts on the performance of the youth national team of Ukraine at Euro-2025 (U-21). Recall that in the first two rounds of the European championship, the Ukrainian “youth team” first lost to Denmark (2:3), then defeated Finland (3:0) and will now play against the Netherlands (even a draw in this match will ensure the “blue-yellow” advance to the quarter-finals).
— In both matches against Denmark and Finland, we played well in the first half. But what happens to the game in the second half is a question. Remembering the first match in the group against the Danes, there was hope for a positive result. However, the guys failed in the second half of the match. There were especially problems in defense. Moreover, these issues are present not only in our youth team but also in the national team.
As for the second meeting against the Finns, it was the same: we saw one game before the break, and in the second half, it was completely different. It was good that we scored the second goal — and after that, it became a bit easier. It seems that we have good performers in our “youth team” — both players who are in the spotlight in the UPL and those who play abroad, but the collective play leaves much to be desired.
— In the next match against the Netherlands, the captain of the youth national team of Ukraine, Volodymyr Brazhko, will be unable to participate as he was sent off in the match against the Finns...
— It’s a pity that he received a red card. I consider it to be showboating. In the first episode, when he was booked with a yellow card, Brazhko threw the ball away, and in the second, perhaps, there wasn’t even a foul, but... But it turned out foolishly. This raises the question: the team is leading — why kick the ball somewhere? But what can we do: youth.
— How do you see the confrontation with the Dutch?
— It will be a difficult game. Our team is satisfied with a draw, but relying on such a result is hard. Therefore, Ukrainian footballers need to prove that they are a Team. We all believe that the youth national team of our country will advance to the next round of the European Championship. This is important for all of Ukraine as well as for the players themselves. After all, getting out of the group in a continental championship is a good incentive. I’ll say right away: it will be difficult. Very difficult. And yet, there is hope that we will go further. God willing, I’m right. We will see.
Vyacheslav Kulchitsky